Permanent nerve damage

If a nerve has been damaged enough or has died then yes, it's permanent. Nerves can't be "repaired" or regenerated, at least as of now. I've been dealing with idiopathic poly neuropathy in my feet for over 10 years, and it's not going to get any better, ever. Three neurologists, 2 neurosurgeons, and my GP have all told me the same thing, once a nerve has been damaged or has died that's it, there's nothing they can do for you except to try to control the pain.

I am dealing with the possibility of permanent spinal cord deficit at the T8-T9 level, I had been rehabilitating on a rotator cuff tear surgery for months. Noticed about 4-5 mos after this surgery, that both my legs have gotten weak, I attributed this to the fact I was concentrating on building shoulder strength and not legs. It progressively got worse until one day walking down my front steps, my legs suddenly gave way and I stumbled about 15' (didn't fall) but this is when I knew something was wrong. An unusual malfunction started, an electrical sensation across the middle of my back, followed by extreme leg weakness for about 5 sec, where I had better be hanging on to something or I would have likely fallen, and 5 more seconds, the effect faded, back to steady state weak legs. Ended up with a neck pain and tingling in right arm, thought it was unrelated, but I got an order for MRI, had a spine/neck surgeon review, and he said severe stenosis, surgery needed, "don't be surprised if you wake up one morning and can't walk anymore" I asked to get the rest of my spine reviewed because of the odd back electric shocks. Thoracic and lumbar MRI's taken. Upon arriving to have images reviewed, was advised I need urgent Thoracic surgery for a very large central HNP, 10+ mm hernia pressing directly on the cord. 9 days later I was in surgery, and that evening walked out of the hospital for home. The surgeon said I have issues not only on thoracic but Cervical AND Lumbar. With the Thoracic fixed June 27, I had my ACDF C5-C7 fixed Dec, and it was a complete success, right arm malfunctions gone, BUT I still had lingering weakness on both leg quads, the Glutes, numbness on both feed (calf muscles unaffected), came down with urinary retention from General anesthesia after thoracic surgery but it got worse after the Cervical. Urinary problems along with needing to eat prunes and Senna pills to encourage #2, kind of points to a possible residual issue with Thoracic as well as new issues with Lumbar. Information I have found says that my Thoracic surgery recovery makes the greatest improvements in the first 6 mos, much slower from month 6-18, after which you are what you are as no further gains will be made by your spine. I am currently seeking advice and techniques to determine if neurologic deficits are damage to thoracic surgical site, or if I need to have the XLIF with PSIF done sooner than later. I DON'T want indecisiveness to add further deficits that I will just have to learn to live with. BTW, I am doing Tai Chi, and I was applauded by my physical therapist that Tai-Chi is what they have stroke patients do because it encourages you body to re-route the wiring , calling the process Neuroplasticity . Perhaps you should look into this

@mrmacabre
What are your symptoms? I have a throbbing feeling in my calf muscles after I walk.

@johntow
Wow that's very extreme what you went through. I am worried that I have permanent move damage I have had the stenosis for 6 years and I didn't want to have fusion because I have osteoporosis and no one ever even asked me about that they just kept saying you need fusion. Anyway I am now contemplating fusion after having a failed laminectomy but some of the surgeons are saying they don't know if it could help. One guy said it could help me maybe 50% with my symptoms which would be better than nothing. It's ust hard to know who to believe. But I could look into Tai chi it's just that walking and standing is hard for me that's what brings on my symptoms and I know Tai chi is basically standing. Did you end up doing the PLIF ?

Question keeps coming up to me—if a person has mild OP, and surgery is recommended, like hip replacement or spine surgery—is it better to do the surgery sooner while bones are relatively stronger ? I heard of people having surgery scheduled only to find out their bone situation is too far deteriorated for the surgery to be completed…

@johntow
Did you ever get a diagnosis on why your legs gave out?
The same thing happened to me on two occasions about a year ago…a kind of electrical flash around my mid back immediately followed by a few seconds of complete nothingness in my legs.

YES! I had a very large Thoracic hernia, at T8-T9 which was surgically removed. The doctor described the condition as follows "The patient has a very large thoracic HNP causing severe central stenosis on the cord. Due to his significant lower extremity weakness, numbness, tingling, balance disturbance and gait abnormalities he is a candidate for urgent surgical management"

It was also described as follows - "Thoracic MRI from 6/9/25 was independently reviewed in the office today. This study is consistent with sever central stenosis at T8-T9 due to a large right paracentral disc herniation with severe bilateral foraminal stenosis.

After surgery, which happened at mid-morning, I spent a LONG time in PACU, I came to find out later that the 4 hours in recovery was because of heavy anesthesia, which I did not like at all. Turns out the Thoracic is a very tricky place to have surgery, a lot can go wrong. I had a complete battery of neuromonitoring leads attached from head to toe, the conducted MEP, SSEP, Needle EMG, EEG_ECOG and Train of 4 (typically used by anesthesiologists to judge the level of neuromuscular blocking activity) . I said all that to say this, Intraoperative Neuro monitoring does not work well with inhaled gas or the neuromuscular blocking agents like rocuronium, it skews the results, so you are left with something called TIVA, Total Intravenous Anesthesia (TIVA) is a technique for inducing and maintaining general anesthesia using exclusively intravenous (IV) agents, such as propofol, without inhalational (gas) anesthetics. My anesthesiologist opted to give me 200mg of Ketamine which I think added heavyness to my anesthesia.

Anyways, I walked out of that hospital feeling SOOOO much better at 7pm that same day. Fast forward to today, (6 mos later) I am suspicious that I have lingering damage at that location, as I have symptoms that are now getting my attention. I also have a L4-L5 compression that also needs to be addressed, and I can't figure out what is causing what. Neurologist consultation perhaps. Feet are somewhat numb, calf's are fine, quads are quite weak, as I can only press about 125lb's (used to be able to press the entire stack of weights 540lb) Glutes are very weak, and I notice this sitting down or standing up. Urinary retention (probably not BPH as the urologist casually diagnosed me with , because my A1C is .2) Balance issues linger, especially when I close my eyes. Pedal confusion (is my foot on the brake or accelerator??)

I can't have any work done on my Lumbar for months as I am recovering from ACDF surgery done Dec 22, which was fantastically successful, I really hoped THAT would alleviate some of the issues that persist, but it only fixed my right arm troubles. They don't like to perform major surgeries so close to previous ones, becuase the trauma and inflammation. tio your body BUT I need to find out if these symptoms are because of my Thoracic healing may have hitting a ceiling on recovery, or new issues on my Lumbar, or a combination of both. From what I understand, 0-6 mos, is when MOST of the healing happens, from 6-18 mos, a much smaller amount of healing will happen, and at 18 mos, you have pretty much hit the end of your recovery, and that will be your new baseline, whatever you have. Consider Tai-Chi, I started that and my PT guy said "funny you are doing that, we use that for stroke patients, it encourages nerves finding new unused circuits, that process is called neuroplasticity" Consider it but GET YOU MRI looked at.

The electric feeling you experienced is not good, I would suggest you have direct compression on your spinal cord somewhere in the Thoracic area. Please get an MRI and find an excellent Spine / Nick surgeon to consult with your images. I Love my surgeon, Dr Gregory Lopes - Midwest Orthopedics at Rush. A true rock star!

@annie1
For my Lumbar issues, My surgeon said I need an XLIF with a PSIF. This is a complicated surgery, because it could last 4+ hrs, they put you on your side, and perform the discectomy, THEN reposition you prone, and finish with the PSIF . There will be pain and discomfort for a while, not to mention my urinary retention is likely caused by my lumbar issues, was told that this surgery will not allow me to pressurize my abdomen to assist voiding - produces lots of pain . . .UGH, I have turned into an old man!

My only advice to you is find yourself a fantastic surgeon. My post surgical success stories, when told to doctors, they all say "well your have your surgeon to thank for that" I just got very lucky. My surgeon is Dr Gregory Lopez, Midwest Orthopedics at Rush. I hail him as a Rock Star

@johntow
Well I'm going to try to make an appointment with him. I'm tired of being told so many different things and no one can guarantee that it's going to help anything. I've been all over the country literally. I was about to settle on a surgeon that I like and that my dentist recommended who is a very knowledgeable doctor but then I had this appointment today at Mass general where I was told I need to take care of my cervical spine first because it looks dangerous. And I don't really know who to go to for that. There are many surgeons in New York City but I'm completely trust a lot of them. That's the problem how do I know who's really great? It's not from reviews cuz they all have great reviews. I think they must pay people sometimes to write those reviews. Anyway I think I'll look into your doctor. And tell me again we're Rush hospital is?

Midwest Orthopedics surgeons work out of Rush hospital in the city of Chicago, and at Elmhurst Hospital, Elmhurst Illinois. Google Search for midwest orthopedics at Rush, they have an 800 number you can call. They are about a 50 minute drive from where I live. I don't care though,